Automatic window control



April 3, 1956 R. E. HALL 2,740,626

AUTOMATIC WINDOW CONTROL Filed Nov. 10, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Robert E. l-lal/ INVEN TOR.

BY %m April 3, 1956 R. E. HALL AUTOMATIC WINDOW CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10, 1952 INVENTOR.

Robert E Hall United States Patent '0 2,740,626 AUTOMATIC WINDOW CONTROL Robert E. HaILLarkinsville, Ala. Application November 10, 1952, Serial No. 319,723

7 Claims. (Cl. 268-125) This invention relates to an automatic window control and particularly to a device for opening and closing windows'in response to the temperature and means for permanently'c'losi'ng and locking the windows while rendering the temperature responsive means inoperative.

In many institutions such as schools, hospitals and the like it is desirable to raise the windows to control the temperature in the rooms. This has heretofore been done in a hit and miss fashion so that it is frequently too warm before the windows are opened or too cold before they are closed. Also, it is desirable that all Windows may be closed at a certain given time and the temperature responsive means rendered inoperative.

The present invention provides a window control system in which a temperature responsive device opens and closes the windows to provide ventilation in dependence upon a predetermined temperature scale. It is thus possible for the windows to be opened and closed so that there will be proper ventilation in response to the temperature and there will be no necessity of disturbing class rooms or other functions in order to secure the proper opening of the windows. Likewise, it is desirable at a certain period of the day, such as closing time, to be able to close all windows from a given point and to render the temperature responsive device inoperative. The present invention provides this by providing a reservoir of temperature expansive fluid and providing a master work cylinder to open the windows if the cylinder is fed by the expansion of fluid in the reservoir. A control system is provided for the reservoir so that a certain amount of expansion of the fluid may take place so that the windows will open at a pre-set temperature. Likewise, after all of the windows are closed a vacuum may occur in the chamber if the shrinkage of the temperature responsive fluid continues. In order to provide a closing system a separate set of master cylinders are provided and a pump connected with a resewoir of pressure fluid is operatively connected to the various control cylinders so that operation of the pump will close all windows. A pressure responsive system is provided with a control system or release so that the pres sure fluid may expand at will with temperature increase or decrease and for this purpose a release lever is provided for releasing the adjusting device. The release lever is also connected to the pump cylinder so that the actuation of the pump releases the adjustment of the temperature responsive fluid reservoir so that the closing of the windows will not be impeded by expansion of the fluid in the temperature responsive device.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an automatic window control system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a system utilizing a fluid expansive in response to temperature for opening and closing windows.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic locking system for windows.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic locking system which automatically deenergizes the pressure temperature responsive device.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a window control system utilizing an expansive fluid to propel a master cylinder which opens and closes windows.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved closing device operated by a fluid piston.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a window control system according to the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of a window of the system in closed position with parts broken away and in section;

Figure 3 is a similar view of the window in partially open position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and showing the linkage for operating the window; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation partially broken away and in section of the temperature responsive controller.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention a plurality of windows 10 are provided with upper and lower sections 12 and 14 which are connected together by means of flexible tensioning elements 16 and 18, the tensioning elements being extended over suitable pulleys 20 and 22.

In order to properly manipulate the window sections 12 and 14 an actuating bar 24 is connected to one of the window sashes such as the bottom sash of section 14 by suitable arms 26 and 28. As herein shown the window sill 30 is provided with recesses 32 associated with apertures 34 so that the arms 26 and 28 may readily reciprocate through the sill and be seated in the sill when the windows are cIosed. Each of the actuating bars 24 is provided with a'pair of longitudinal slots 40 and 42 and a pair of arms 44 and 46 are pivoted intermediate the ends thereof on a supporting frame work 48 and 50 by means of a suitable base member 52. The arms 44 and 46 are attached 'to the base plate 52 by means of suitable pins 54 and 56. Preferably the pins 54 and 56 are oil-center so that the'ends'of the arms 44 and 46 connected to the operating bar 24 are longer than the remaining ends.

The overlapping ends of the levers 44 and 46 are provided with longitudinally extending slots 60 and 62 through which is extended the pivot bolt 64 which is secured intermediate the ends of a piston rod 66. It will thus be seen that the motion of the piston rod 66 is well multiplied when applied to the actuating bar 24 so that a relatively short movement of the piston rod will cause a considerably larger movement of the actuating bar 24 and the associated window sections.

In order to actuate the windows in response to changes in temperature a reservoir 70 is provided and filled with a temperature responsive fluid such as mercury which will readily expand when heated to produce a pressure which is communicated to a cylinder 72 by means of a conduit 74. Preferably a plurality of windows are associated with the elevating device and valves 76 will be associated with various windows so that windows may be opened or closed as maybe selected. The expansion fluid reser voir 70 is provided with a filling opening 77 having a suitable closure valve 78. A control cylinder 80 is provided with a control piston 82 which may be readily adjusted in the cylinder 80 by means of a screw-threaded connection 84. Preferably the screw-threaded connection 84 is provided with a crank 86 so that the piston 82 may be adjusted at will in the cylinder 80. As some of the windows might be blocked off an excessive pressure might develop in the pressure container 70 and to prevent damage to the system. resilient means 88 is connected to the control block 90. The springs 88 are of sufficient strength so that all of the windows will be operated before the block 90 will be moved so that the piston 82 will slide in the cylinder 89 under the accumulation of an passive pressure in the reservoir 70. An eccentric lever 92 is pivotally mounted adjacent the cylinder 80 and carries the end of the spring 88 so that the tension of the spring 88 may be adjusted by adjusting the lever 92. When the lever 92 is in set position as indicated in Fig ures l and 5 the spring 83 will be tensioned and the adjusting block 90 will be held rigidly against the cylinder 8% and the piston 82. will be maintained in adjusted position. However, by reversing the position as shown in phantom in Figure 5, the spring 88 will be released, releasing the adjusting block 90 so that the fluid in the reservoir 79 may readily expand without injuring any portion of the equipment. The piston rod 66 is connected to a piston 94 in the cylinder 72 so that expansion of the fiuid in the reservoir 70 when the lever 90 is in set position will cause an exertion of compression force on the piston 94 and shift the piston rod 66 so that the lovers 44 and 46 will assume an angular position as indicated in Figure 3. A cylinder 100 is mounted in opposition to the cylinder 72 and is provided with a piston 102 which is connected to the opposite end of the piston rod 66. A fluid reservoir 164 is provided with suitable pressure fluid such as oil and is connected to the cylinders 100 by means of a conduit 196. The top portion of the conduit 196 is a pump barrel H18 in which is mounted a pump piston 110. A fluid aperture 112 is provided in the bottom of the reservoir 194 and communicates with the pump barrel 103 when the piston lltl is withdrawn to its fullest extent. With the piston 110 withdrawn to its fullest extent the aperture 112 communicates through the conduit 106 with each of the cylinders 100 so that the cylinders 190 will be inoperative and the piston 102 may move freely therein displacing the oil into the reservoir 104. Preferably each of the cylinders 100 is provided with a control valve 114 so that any one of the windows may be locked in closed or open position as the case may be and be independent of the control system.

The piston 110 is provided with a piston rod 120 which is connected by a link 122 to the lever 92 so that opening of the lever 92 will depress the piston 11.0 and force fluid through the conduit 106 into each of the cylinders 100 and cause the pistons 102 to move the piston rod 66 to forcibly close all of the windows connected with the compression system.

It will be apparent that by utilizing the valves 76 and 114 any of the Windows may be isolated from the control system and left in either open or closed position in respect to the condition of the temperature or the operation of the piston 110.

In the operation of the window control system according to the invention, the reservoir 70 is filled with a suitable thermal expansive fluid through the opening 76 and the piston 82 will be adjusted in the cylinder 80 so that the device will operate at a given temperature after which the valve 78 will be closed securing the pressure system. An increase in temperature will then increase the pressure in the reservoir 70 which will be communicated through the conduit 74 to the various cylinders '72 so that the pistons 94 will be pushed down, operating piston rod 66 and angulating the levers 44 and 46 to raise the window sections 14 and lower the window sections 12. Obviously, on the reduction of temperature there will be a reduction of pressure in the reservoir 70 and the consequent retraction of the pistons 94 and closing action to the window sections 14 and 12. In the event the pressure in the reservoir 70 should increase beyond the safety limits either because of undue temperature or because of the closing off of several of the valves 76 the pressure release spring 88 will allow the piston 82 to slide in the cylinder 80 and thus prevent damage to the system.

When it is desired to close all of the windows the lever 92 is operated operating the piston 110 and forcing fluid into all of the cylinders 100 forcing the pistons 102 up to close all of the windows. At the same time the operation of the lever 92 will release the spring 88 so that the piston 82 will move downwardly in the cylinder 80 and thus relieve the pressure in the chamber so that the expansible fluid may return from the cylinders 72.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a control system in which windows may be locked or unlocked at will and in which the windows when unlocked will open and close in response to temperature conditions.

For purposes of exemplification a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

l. A thermal responsive pressure system for automatically actuating windows in response to changes in temperature, including a closed fluid pressure reservoir containing a pressure creating thermally sensitive readily expandible fluid, a fluid motor in communication with said reservoir, :1 pressure responsive piston in said fluid motor and including a piston rod extending out of said fluid motor, a movable window assembly operably connected to said piston rod, adjustable pressure control means in communication with said fluid pressure reservoir for regulating in relation to temperature when pressure will be directed to the fluid motor, and pressure relief means in communication with said reservoir for preventing the excessive build-up of pressure in said reservoir.

2. In a thermal responsive pressure system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pressure control means and pressure relief means includes a cylinder in communication with said reservoir, a piston adjustably carried in said cylinder, and resilient means operatively connected between said piston and cylinder.

3. In a thermal responsive pressure system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said resilient means comprises a tersion spring connected at one end to a rod secured to the piston and extending out of said cylinder. the other end of said spring being connected to an adjustable lever pivotally mounted on said cylinder.

4. A thermal responsive pressure system as set forth in claim 2 including a second fluid pressure reservoir in communication with a second fluid motor, said second fluid motor having a pressure piston therein including a piston rod operatively connected to said movable assembly, and means connected between said pressure relief means olsaid first reservoir and the second reservoir for creating pressure in said second fluid motor and relieving pressure in said first fluid reservoir and first fluid motor.

5. A thermal responsive pressure system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second fluid reservoir includes a fluid pump therein in communication with said second fluid motor, and a force transmitting element extending between said pressure relief means and the fluid pump for directing pressure to said second fluid motor while pressure is relieved in said fluid motor.

6. A thermal responsive pressure system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and second fluid motors have a common piston rod extending axially therebetween, said piston rod being operatively connected to a linkage an sembly engaged with the movable window assembly for raising and lowering said window assembly in response to the direction of fluid pressure into said first or second fluid motor.

7. A thermal responsive pressure system as set forth in claim 1 including a control valve interposed betwem the fluid pressure reservoir and fluid motor for preventing the transmission of fluid pressure in said fluid motor.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Story June 24, 1884 Roberts July 24, 1888 Ulli Feb. 9, 1897 Cumming Aug. 15, 1911 Hartwig Dec. 6, 1921 Love Sept. 14, 1937 Peterson June 10, 1941 Rappl June 12, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS France Sept. 28, 1908 Great Britain Mar. 9, 1933 Canada Nov. 6, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES 

